Handle and power cord assemblies for bipolar electrosurgical devices

Abstract

Bipolar electrosurgical devices may include a handle assembly configured to control movement of components of the electrosurgical device to perform an electrosurgical procedure and a power cord assembly configured to electrically connect the bipolar electrosurgical device with a power source. For bipolar sphincterotomes, an active portion of the handle assembly may include a first active member that contacts and slides across a second active member as the gripping portion moves about a handle stem component of the handle assembly. The power cord assembly may include a pair of return contacts that are shorted together when connected with the handle assembly, which in turn may deactivate an alarm output by the power source.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A handle assembly for a bipolar electrosurgical device, the handle assembly comprising:
 an elongate handle stem portion comprising a body and a channel longitudinally extending in the body; 
 a return portion of a return path of the bipolar electrosurgical device, the return portion comprising a return member disposed in the handle stem portion; 
 a gripping portion movably disposed about the handle stem portion; and 
 an active portion of an active path of the bipolar electrosurgical device, the active portion comprising an active member electrically connected to an active wire of the active path, 
 wherein the gripping portion is configured to move the active wire in the channel relative to the return member and relative to the active member while the active member maintains being electrically connected with the active wire. 
 
     
     
       2. The handle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the active member comprises a second active member, and wherein the active portion further comprises:
 a first active member longitudinally extending in the channel, 
 wherein the first active member extends in the channel and contacts the second active member to form an electrical connection with the second active member and the active wire. 
 
     
     
       3. The handle assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first active member is configured to slide across an outer surface of the second active member while maintaining electrical contact with the second active member as the gripping portion is moved about the handle stem portion. 
     
     
       4. The handle assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first active member has a rounded end that contacts the outer surface of the second active member. 
     
     
       5. The handle assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the second active member is configured to flex when biased by the first active member as the gripping portion moves from a distal position to a proximal position. 
     
     
       6. The handle assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the second active member comprises:
 a distal portion disposed on a bottom inner surface of the handle stem portion; and 
 a proximal portion that proximally extends upwardly from the bottom inner surface to a position along a proximal side inner surface of the handle stem portion, 
 wherein the proximal portion of the second active member is configured to flex when biased by the first active member. 
 
     
     
       7. The handle assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the active portion further comprises a proximal active portion that electrically connects the second active member with a first active contact disposed on the handle assembly, and
 wherein the return portion further comprises a proximal return portion that electrically connects the return member with a first return contact disposed on the handle assembly. 
 
     
     
       8. The handle assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first second active member comprises a conductive strip. 
     
     
       9. The handle assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the second active member is made of one of: Nitinol, spring steel, copper, or gold. 
     
     
       10. A bipolar electrosurgical device comprising:
 an elongate tubular member; 
 an active path configured to deliver electrical current generated by a power source to a treatment site, the active path comprising an active wire movably disposed and longitudinally extending in the tubular member; 
 a return path configured to return the electrical current to the power source; and 
 a handle assembly comprising:
 an elongate handle stem portion comprising a body and a channel longitudinally extending in the body; and 
 a gripping portion movably disposed about the handle stem portion and operably coupled to a proximal end of the active wire, 
 
 wherein the return path comprises a return member disposed in the handle stem portion, wherein the active path further comprises an active member integrated with the handle assembly and electrically connected with the active wire, and 
 wherein the gripping portion is configured to move the active wire in the channel relative to the return member and relative to the active member while the active member maintains being electrically connected with the active wire. 
 
     
     
       11. The bipolar electrosurgical device of  claim 10 , wherein the active member comprises a second active member, wherein the active path further comprises a first active member integrated with the handle assembly,
 wherein the first active member is fixedly attached to the gripping portion connected to the proximal end of the active wire; and 
 wherein the second active member longitudinally extends in the channel, and 
 wherein the first active member extends into the channel and contacts the second active member to form an electrical connection between the active wire, the first active member, and the second active member. 
 
     
     
       12. The bipolar electrosurgical device of  claim 11 , wherein the first active member is configured to slide across an outer surface of the second active member while maintaining electrical contact with the second active member as the gripping portion is moved about the handle stem portion. 
     
     
       13. The bipolar electrosurgical device of  claim 11 , wherein the first active member has a rounded end that contacts the second active member. 
     
     
       14. The bipolar electrosurgical device of  claim 11 , wherein the second active member is configured to flex when biased by the first active member as the gripping portion moves from a distal position to a proximal position. 
     
     
       15. The bipolar electrosurgical device of  claim 14 , wherein the second active member comprises:
 a distal portion disposed on a bottom inner surface of the handle stem portion; and 
 a proximal portion that proximally extends upwardly from the bottom inner surface to a position along a proximal side inner surface of the handle stem portion, where the proximal portion is electrically connected to a proximal conductive path of the handle assembly, 
 wherein the proximal portion of the second active member is configured to flex when biased by the first active member. 
 
     
     
       16. The bipolar electrosurgical device of  claim 11 , wherein the second active member is made of one of: Nitinol, spring steel, copper, or gold. 
     
     
       17. The bipolar electrosurgical device of  claim 11 , wherein the second active member comprises a conductive strip. 
     
     
       18. The bipolar electrosurgical device of  claim 11 , wherein the active path further comprises a proximal active path portion that electrically connects the second active member with a first active contact disposed on the handle assembly, and
 wherein the return member further comprises a proximal return path portion that electrically connects the return member with a first return contact disposed on the handle assembly. 
 
     
     
       19. The bipolar electrosurgical device of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a power cord assembly configured for removable attachment with the handle assembly, wherein the power cord assembly comprises a plurality of contacts configured for electrical contact with the first active contact and the first return contact of the handle assembly, the plurality of contacts comprising: 
 a second active contact configured for electrical contact with the first active contact of the handle assembly; and 
 a second return contact and a third return contact configured for electrical contact with the first return contact of the handle assembly. 
 
     
     
       20. The bipolar electrosurgical device of  claim 19 , wherein the second active contact, the second return contact, and the third return contact of the power cord assembly are disposed and sufficiently electrically isolated from each other on a mating connector, the mating connector configured to mate with a corresponding mating area of the handle assembly on which the first active contact and first return contact are disposed. 
     
     
       21. The bipolar electrosurgical device of  claim 20 , wherein the second return contact and the third return contact of the power cord assembly are electrically shorted together by the first return contact of the handle assembly when the mating connector is mated with the mating area of the handle assembly. 
     
     
       22. The bipolar electrosurgical device of  claim 10 , wherein the return member is disposed and longitudinally extending in the body of the handle stem portion.